Without treatment, ADHD can cause problems with work, school, and relationships. Learn how therapy and medication used together can help bring ADHD under control.

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Children with ADHD that goes undiagnosed and untreated can struggle through school, both academically and socially. Those struggles will continue into adulthood, making college, a career, and a relationship more challenging than they should be. That's why getting an ADHD diagnosis and starting treatment, either with ADHD drugs or other methods, is so important.

Treating ADHD: Can ADHD Be Cured?

There's no cure for ADHD, a disorder that affects the ability to pay attention, stay organized, and focus on tasks at hand. But the good news is that ADHD can be successfully managed with treatment.

Although there is no magic pill or therapy that works for everyone, there are many ways of treating ADHD. There are nearly endless combinations of different types of therapy and ADHD drugs, and the right combination to manage ADHD can be found for most people.

Treating ADHD: ADHD Drugs

Medications are typically prescribed for people with ADHD. Some common ADHD drugs include:

Stimulant ADHD drugs. These include Ritalin, Dexedrine, Adderall, Vyvanse, Daytrana, and Focalin. Stimulants are the most frequently prescribed, and help to improve concentration by boosting levels of the chemical dopamine in the brain.

Non-stimulant ADHD drug. The only approved non-stimulant ADHD drug is atomoxetine (Strattera). This drug increases levels of the chemical norepinephrine in the brain, and the effects last longer.

Antidepressants. Depression is common in people with ADHD, so these are often prescribed when ADHD drugs aren't effective or can't be taken. Bupropion (Wellbutrin) is the most often prescribed antidepressant for ADHD, but tricyclic antidepressants may also be prescribed. Tricyclic antidepressants frequently used in the treatment of ADHD include desipramine (Norpramine), imipramine (Tofranil), amitriptyline (Elavil), and nortriptyline (Pamelor).

Hypertension medications. Medications typically prescribed to treat high blood pressure may be prescribed to manage ADHD symptoms. Guanfacine (Tenex and Intuniv) and clonidine (Catapres) are used most often. While they don't improve attention, they do help to manage hyperactivity and aggressive symptoms.

Treating ADHD: Therapy for ADHD

Therapy is very effective in helping manage symptoms of ADHD. Types of therapy proven successful in treating ADHD include:

Cognitive-behavioral therapy. This type of therapy can help people who have struggled with the negative effects of ADHD learn to overcome them and be both positive and realistic in managing their ADHD. It can also help to teach coping skills to better organize time and focus on school and work.

Behavioral therapy. This teaches people with ADHD how to manage their time, prioritize work and tasks, and focus and organize to get things. Behavioral therapy also teaches individuals how to manage and control their behaviors and improve their social skills, therefore improving relationships with others.

Social skills therapy. Children with ADHD can be trained to understand and appropriately react to social behaviors and body language. A social skills group is often an effective setting for teaching children.

Talk therapy. This treatment therapy can help people with ADHD who are bothered by the consequences of untreated ADHD, such as feeling inferior because of failing in school or work or having relationship challenges. Talk therapy works through feelings of embarrassment to allow people with ADHD to move forward with treatment.

Training for parents. Being the parent of a child with ADHD takes more than patience — it takes training. It's important to know how to encourage and guide your child, and be consistent in your communication. A behavioral parenting class for parents of ADHD children can be very effective for your relationship and for your child's treatment.

ADHD treatment is definitely a multi-part approach. While the right medication can be very helpful, it should never be the only form of treatment. With medication to manage symptoms and therapy to help learn how to cope with ADHD, you can find the right formula for success.

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